Blogito ergo sum! Actually, as N.T. Wright averred, "'Amor, ergo sum:' I am loved, therefore I am." Among other things, I am a Roman Catholic deacon. This is a public cyberspace in which I seek to foster Christian discipleship in the late modern milieu in the diakonia of koinonia and in the recognition that "the Eucharist is the only place of resistance to annihilation of the human subject."

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Sunday, April 21, 2013

"We are his people, the flock he shepherds" (Ps. 100:3)

Since it is late, I am only going to offer a brief sketch of some thoughts I had for the readings for this Fourth Sunday of Easter, also known as Good Shepherd Sunday, which is also World Day of Prayer for Vocations.

In today's Gospel Jesus says, "My sheep hear my voice; I know them, and they follow me" (John 10:27). In our first reading from the Acts of the Apostles, St. Paul, speaking to those assembled in Pisidian Antioch (as opposed to Syrian Antioch), quotes the Lord: "I have made you a light to the Gentiles, that you may be an instrument of salvation to the ends of the earth" (Acts 13:47). Finally, concerning the "great multitude," who stood worshiping "before the throne and before the Lamb" in our reading from Revelation, we learn that "the Lamb who is in the center of the throne will shepherd them and lead them to springs of life-giving water, and God will wipe away every tear from their eyes" (Rev. 7:9.17).

From our readings we can discern a dynamic: the Lord calls His followers; His followers hear His voice and respond by following Him; like Paul and Barnabas, they are sent; He leads His flock to green pastures, that is, home to the house of the Father. Only those who follow the Good Shepherd reach their destination.

Detail from the Sarcophagus of the Good Shepherd, Catacomb of Praetextatus, Rome, AD 390s

Especially in today's Gospel and in our reading from Revelation we are reminded of the uncomfortable fact that not everyone the Lord calls hears and not everyone who hears His call responds. Elsewhere the Lord says, "Not everyone who says to Me, 'Lord, Lord,' will enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father who is in heaven will enter'" (Matt. 7:21). Jesus came to do the will of the Father. He calls those who the Father has given Him to do the Father's will, which is done in service of establishing the reign, or the kingdom, of God.

An "apostle" is one who is sent. When we profess that the Church is apostolic, we mean it in a twofold sense. First, we refer to apostolic succession. Too often, as Catholics, we stop there. The Church is apostolic in a second, equally important sense, as we are reminded, not only at the end of each Mass, when are dismissed ("Go in peace;" "Go in peace, glorifying the Lord by your life;" "Go in peace, proclaiming the Gospel of the Lord"), but by the very word "Mass," which comes from the Latin word missa, meaning to be dismissed, or, more accurately, as we see from the dismissals, to be sent.

In our readings today we are able to form a pretty good idea of what it means to "his people, the sheep of his flock" (Ps. 100:3).

No kidding, the rest of this week will be light posting- look for a traditio on Friday, something on Wednesday in honor of the major Rogation day Thursday, 25 April, which is also the Feast of St. Mark, Evangelist. Next weekend I am preaching, look for my homily.

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About Me

I am husband and Dad to six lovely children. I am also a Roman Catholic deacon of the Diocese of Salt Lake City. I married in 1993, became a Dad for the first time in 1994 and most recently in 2011 (quite a spread). I was was ordained in 2004. After serving as a deacon for 11 years at The Cathedral of the Madeleine in Salt Lake City (8 years before I was ordained for a total of 19 years), I am now assigned to St Olaf's Parish in Bountiful, Utah. I am a graduate of the University of Utah and the Institute in Pastoral Ministry at St. Mary's University of Minnesota. I am currently a candidate for a Doctorate in Ministry (D.Min) at Mount Angel Seminary, Oregon.

Madeleine Delbrêl

"We fashion the immortal being we are through our choices. Through our choices we bring the man in us to the fullness of life or to the worst of human suffering. At the hour of his death each human being has become either a person who will live with God forever, or who will be without God forever" Madeleine Delbrêl

St. Paul

"I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect" (Rom. 12:1-2)

Two men I greatly admire

BXVI w/ Abp Rowan

C.S. Lewis

“Friendship is born at that moment when one person says to another: 'What! You too? I thought I was the only one'” Lewis